Gizzi on Politics: Michigan Challenge; Daley’s List; Spy Movie; More

GOP Rep. Kerry Bentivolio of Michigan, who disappointed many of his tea party supporters when he voted to raise the debt ceiling, is likely to face a primary challenge next year.

The name most often mentioned as a primary candidate is that of super-lawyer David Trott, who has considered bids for state party chairman and state senator in the past and could reportedly fund a campaign with his own wealth.

Bentivolio won the Republican nomination to Congress from Michigan’s 10th District after Rep. Thad McCotter abruptly left the race in 2012. His election to Congress was widely hailed as a victory for the tea party and followers of Ron Paul.

In addition to his vote on the debt ceiling, Bentivolio also made his share of enemies when he supported an unsuccessful challenger in the race for GOP district chairman.

Daley: No Checks for Democrats Who Killed Gun Bill
Bill Daley, President Barack Obama’s former chief of staff, took the unusual step of attacking members of his own party who opposed a Senate bill expanding gun background checks.

In a strongly worded op-ed in the Washington Post last week, Daley noted that three of four Democrats in the Senate who opposed the Manchin-Toomey compromise on background checks are up for election next year — Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Max Baucus of Montana.

“No doubt they’ll come to Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and other cities looking for money to fuel their campaigns,” wrote Daley. “So I’ll have some advice for my friends in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles: Just say no to the Democrats who said no on background checks.”

As to what Democrats Daley plans to support in 2014, he wrote, “Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) and Kay Hagan (N.C.) will be at the top of my list.” Both supported Manchin-Toomey and both face tough re-election battles next year.

Movie in Works on ‘Most Harmful Spy’
A movie portraying a U.S. female intelligence official’s betrayal of country will be filmed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be released in 2013.

Tentatively entitled “True Believer,” the film will be based on a book by Scott Carmichael about the life of Ana Montes, who spent 17 years rising in the ranks of the Defense Intelligence Agency by day, but who sent classified information to Cuba by night.

Intelligence experts consider her “among the most harmful spies in recent memory,” wrote Jim Popkin in a profile in last week’s Washington Post Magazine.

Now serving a 25-year prison sentence with some of the most dangerous women in America, the 56-year-old Montes deceived colleagues, a former boyfriend, and her own brother and sister. No word yet on who will portray the femme fatale in the movie.

Portman Slightly Damaged by Gay Marriage Switch
Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio suffered only modest political damage in his home state over his switch in support of gay marriage, a new poll indicates.

Ohio Republicans who approved of Portman’s performance dropped from 63 percent in February to 57 percent last week, while his disapproval with the same voters more than doubled from 8 percent to 21 percent, according to a just-completed Quinnipiac University survey.

Some 41 percent of Republicans said they think less favorably of Portman because of his support of same-sex marriage.